We’re at a very crucial juncture, wherein it’s a “do or die” situation for both Arjuna and Bhagawan Krishna at Kurukshetra on Day Seventeen. Karna has employed the “Naaga-Asthram” which is powered by Snake Ashwasena, who has coiled around Karna’s arrow. Snake Ashwasena had been a long-term enemy to Arjuna, ever since Arjuna and Bhagawan Krishna had teamed up to destroy the entire snake community at the Kaandava Vanam several decades ago. Now, Snake Ashwasena has found a great alliance partner in the form of Karna, who is also determined to kill Arjuna. Thus, as the “Naaga-Asthram” approaches Arjuna, it has Snake Ashwasena in it and he is breathing fire with his intense poison. One bite of Snake Ashwasena, and Arjuna would be instantly finished without any remedy! Upon seeing the incoming “Naaga-Asthram”, Arjuna is helpless as he doesn’t have a solution to counter this unique “Asthram”. Now the onus is completely on Bhagawan Krishna to protect Arjuna. So what is Bhagawan Krishna going to do? Let us continue witnessing from this point.
As we’ve seen, King Shalya had advised Karna to aim the “Naaga-Asthram” towards Arjuna’s chest portion, however, Karna declined his advice and instead aimed it at Arjuna’s head. Now Bhagawan unleashes His divine Leela. He looks at Arjuna, who is stunned and standing helpless against a fast-incoming “Naaga-Asthram” and hence, Bhagawan immediately presses His toe finger on the earth’s surface, giving a lot of pressure. Unable to bear the pressure exerted by Bhagawan’s divine lotus feet, the ground around Arjuna’s chariot sinks a few inches. We’ve seen that Karna had aimed the “Asthram” towards Arjuna’s left eye. The distance between Arjuna’s eye and the “Kireetam” (Cap) which Arjuna is wearing is not much. Hence, Bhagawan Krishna quickly sinks the earth’s surface to that equal height and all of a sudden, Arjuna moves to a lower level! Now, since Arjuna’s level has gone down, the “Naaga-Asthram” cannot adjust itself to come to Arjuna’s level and attack. Karna had already aimed it at a certain way and the projectile motion of the arrow is only aimed to take the arrow to Arjuna’s head, when he is at the normal ground level. But now, since Arjuna’s chariot has moved a notch below the normal ground level, the “Naaga-Asthram” can only hit the “Kireetam” of Arjuna and not his head.
This “Kireetam” which Arjuna is wearing above his head is not an ordinary one. It has been gifted to him by Indra when he had once transcended to the “Deva Lokham” to meet the Devas. We’ve seen this in our earlier episodes that when the Paandava brothers were going through their forest life for twelve years, Arjuna had gone to the “Deva Lokham” for several months and had never returned back. It is during this time, Indra had gifted Arjuna several things, and this “Kireetam” was one among them. It is because Arjuna wears this very highly revered “Kireetam”, he is often referred to as “Kireeti”. Thus, the “Naaga-Asthram” of Karna now hits Arjuna’s “Kireetam” and takes it away from his head! With this, the “Kireetam” is flying along with the “Naaga-Asthram” and Arjuna’s head is saved! Ultimately, what should have killed Arjuna, goes away with just his “Kireetam”. This is one of Bhagawan Krishna’s greatest “Leelas” at Kurukshetra. Of course, He had performed several other “Leelas” right on the battlefield, but this one stands out, because the “Naaga-Asthram” is extremely powerful and none of them could have defended it. Atleast when it came to the “Narayana-Asthram” from Ashwatthama, when everybody stepped down from the chariot and stood on the ground with folded hands, it was neutralized. However, the “Naaga-Asthram” cannot be neutralized with all these kinds of gimmicks! 🙂 It required Bhagawan Krishna’s special “Leela” to handle it.
Thus, with Bhagawan Krishna’s timely divine “Leela”, the “Naaga-Asthram” is completely neutralized and after flying for a distance, it bursts into pieces! Snake Ashwasena also dies, notwithstanding the heat and pressure that the arrow had created! This completely thwarts Karna’s plan of killing Arjuna. Thus, as Karna fails yet again against Arjuna, King Shalya claps his hands and bursts out into a huge laughter! We should remember that King Shalya had given a golden piece of advice. Had Karna listened to King Shalya’s words and aimed it towards Arjuna’s chest, the story could have been completely different by now! These kinds of critical moments are where Karna lost his plot completely due to his fat ego. So for today, let us understand up to this point and we shall wait till the next episode to continue this discussion further! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 